BOSTON -- The Boston Bruins have made their first lineup change of the Stanley Cup Final.
Shawn Thornton, who hasn’t played since Game 2 of the Eastern Conference Finals against Tampa Bay, was added to the active roster for Game 3 of this series against the Vancouver Canucks at TD Garden. He replaces rookie Tyler Seguin and will likely play on the fourth line.
Seguin made his NHL postseason debut against the Lightning in place of an injured Patrice Bergeron and promptly scored six points in his first two games. He hasn’t had a point since, and his ice time has dwindled.
Boston coach Claude Julien moved Rich Peverley to the third line late in Game 2 with Chris Kelly and Michael Ryder. That meant Seguin was either going to play on the fourth line or be out of the lineup, and the rugged veteran Thornton ended up replacing him.
Thornton has no goals and one assist in the 2011 Stanley Cup Playoffs in 13 games, but is considered one of the emotional leaders on the Bruins and is expected to give them more of a physical presence as they try to rally from being down 2-0 in this series.
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